Archive for Leadership

image of valley seen through a crystal ball on a rock ledge

Mindful Reflection

Posted by Carolyn on
 May 29, 2023
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image of valley seen through a crystal ball on a rock ledgeWhile mindfulness is designed to create awareness in the moment, mindful reflection gives us an opportunity to develop awareness of the past. That awareness give us the chance to look at something from a distance; to examine it from different angles.  And just maybe, we can see things from a different perspective.

Reflection

I was hunting for photos on Unsplash.com and Pixabay.com, my two favourite royalty free photography sites. My goal was to find a photo to illustrate the notion of paradigm for my Instagram account @caldwell_evolution (shameless plug for more followers). The photo of a crystal ball reflection caught by eye. While it was perfect for Instagram post I was working on, it also made me think of reflection.

Mindfulness instruction schools us to be aware, on purpose, in the moment without judgement. What if we could also be aware, on purpose, of the past without judgement? How is it that through mindfulness we allow ourselves to suspend judgement of our thoughts, habit or behaviours as they are happening and not in reflection? What’s wrong with looking back a little farther and seeing what cold be learned?

Mindfulness and Awareness and Reflection

So I wondered if Mindfulness could be applied to gain awareness and insight into things that had already happened.  Wouldn’t it be great to suspend judgement for things we realize from the past along with the here and now. And like the crystal ball reflection, could we use the reflection to turn things upside down and see them from a different angle.

Perspectivelooking at the upside down reflection through a crystal ball of a beach and water

So much of the productivity coaching I do is supporting clients to see how their perspective may be influencing their ability to move forward on their goals and dreams. A perspective of success, opportunity, positive thinking, excitement and anticipation usually leads to moving forward with the same eagerness. More negative thinking usually leads forward with frustration, failure and limited accomplishment.

Using mindful reflection to look back on a situation, without judgement, help us develop awareness without criticizing ourselves. That lack of judgement makes for a better chance to learn. What if our paradigm needed a shift? Is there a different way to look at the situation? Could turning the picture upside down and give us a different angle? What was there to see?

The Crystal Ball Reflection

Maybe I ought to have titled this post The Crystal Ball reflection. That special reflective dynamic automatically turns things upside down.  What looks the same or different? Does something feel the same or different? What would you do more of? What would you do differently? That awareness without judgement is key to creating meaningful change.

Clarity I AM Evolution Coaching Productivity
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Keep Small Business Organized: 5 Strategies

Posted by Carolyn on
 September 23, 2015
5 Strategies to keep a small business organized

Stay clutter free to keep a small business organized

Is Your Small Business Organized?

We live in a changing world where small businesses must stay nimble of foot and focused on their goals.  Sometimes those imperatives seem to contradict each other.  How can we stay flexible, nimble and organized as a small business while staying focused on goals and strategies for business growth.

Its probably easier than you think.  There is, however, no room for clutter in a successful small business; no room for extra stuff, tasks or costs.  Here are 5 strategies to help keep that business clutter to a minimum and your small business organized for success.

  1. Make “clutter free” a priority for the business.  By letting employees know this is important, you set the performance expectations for your staff.
  2. Be clear how you define clutter.  Unnecessary paper is one thing but unnecessary emails is equally distracting clutter.  The same goes for unnecessary meetings.
  3. Be a role model and set the standard for your employees.  If your office is a pile of disorganized papers, your employees will believe that’s an ok standard for your business organization.
  4. Give staff the tools they need to be organized.  Include shelves for vertical storage and  immediate access to a blue box for recycling.  If you aren’t sure what is missing or why an employee is so disorganized, consider having a professional organizer conduct an assessment of the work environment. There may be more complex organizational issues that the employee is struggling with.
  5. Schedule a semi-annual clear out day. The rules for the time are simple. Everyone participates in a clear out of their work space on this day. Order lunch.
Office Organizing Organizing Challenges Uncategorized
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Quiet Hour for Executives

Posted by Carolyn on
 March 5, 2009

How often do you book a meeting with yourself in order to get time alone to work on a priority item? All too often, we feel guilty for booking time to ourselves rather than making ourselves available to the people in our business world. Consider, however, whether or not those priority items are in fact getting done on a timely basis with the number of distractions coming into your workspace during your regular work day.

Booking a quiet hour whether for a project, a task, or to think can be a very effective organizing tool for managers and executives. It is especially effective for planning time at the end of the day. The best time to plan for tomorrow’s agenda is at the end of today. Taking a quiet hour to review your priorities, plan out your day and block in your activities will increase your effectiveness as a leader and as an employee.

It may take a couple of times before the people around you realize that you really do mean to be left alone. Don’t answer the phone, email or door. Pretend that no one is in the office. Concentrate for that quiet hour on the task at hand. Pretty soon other people will learn to respect your time and need to work alone. Especially when they see the productivity that results!

Office Organizing
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Focus – and Refocus

Posted by Carolyn on
 January 6, 2009

I first published this post in 2007. The women at iLash Girls have reminded me that we are wise to revisit our focus on a regular basis. Thus I have chosen to republish in the hopes that you will find it helpful to refocus your view of the work to be accomplished this year.

Focus – with a camera? A noun or a verb? And what makes me think it has anything to do with business anyway? Ever try creating something without it?

Probably the single biggest reason employees fail to reach their goals and business fail to succeed is lack of focus. Do you have a mission? Do you know where you are going? Do you know what it will look like when you get there? Do you have a road map? Have you shared the map with anyone else? Have you shared it with everyone else?

If you or your employees are not focused on the goals of the company, they are messing around with what I call corporate clutter; All the stuff that gets in the way of your business, project, division, board of directors or _____________ succeeding (you fill in the blank). It is no different than in your home where clutter takes time, energy and money to manage, and manage around. If your day is cluttered with unnessary and unfocused activity, you are messing with clutter and wasting energy that would otherwise help your business succeed.

Focus: think about it.

Office Organizing
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Lead by Example

Posted by Carolyn on
 December 22, 2008

You may wish your employees were more organized; that their workspace looked more professional, that the offices represented the values to which your business aspires, that reports were on time and that your directors could find last quarter’s results when you asked for them.

One of the most powerful mechanisms to increase your employees’ organization is to increase your own. They will follow the example you lead. If timeliness and organization are high on your list of priorities, and you lead that example in all that you do, your staff will follow.

What does your workspace look like? What does the top of your desk look like? Does your company hold a clear out day regularly where each employee has to commit to clearing out their workspace?

What message are you sending to your employees through your level of organization?

Office Organizing
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Small Business Goals

Posted by Carolyn on
 December 15, 2008

Whether you are small or large business, if you run the show it is important to know where you are going. Here’s an interesting and easy read over on SOHO Blog that will get you thinking.

What do you want from your small business?

Office Organizing
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Too Lean in Tough Times?

Posted by Carolyn on
 December 12, 2008

It seems unlikely to have a professional organizer publish a post, cautioning about being too lean. I would, however, like to recommend this post from All Business, The Small Business Blog, by Rieva Lesonsky. Rieva points out that chopping too much from your small business during tough times may not be helpful in the long run.

Office Organizing
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Business Development

Posted by Carolyn on
 November 10, 2008

I have just returned from three days at the Professional Organizers in Canada annual conference here in Toronto. It was an information packed, fun filled and industry driving conference with almost 25% of the organization’s membership in attendance.

The talent in attendance was exceptional. Harold Taylor and Krista Green were both in attendance to reveal their latest training and business development programs. Elaine Shannon from the Organizing Connection and Laura from I’m an Organizing Junkie brought us up to date with the latest in online business development. Authors Karen Shinn and Gail Shields launched their new book GO! The Essential Guide to Organizing and Moving.

Having filled up my brain and note book with enough ideas to keep me planning for centuries, the conference finished off with a powerful presentation on The Courage to Succeed by Tanya Chernova and Joanna Andros of Courageous Living. They challenged the audience to step right out of the box, break the old neuro-receptor patterns that lead us down predictable roads and start to form new thoughts around our ability to accomplish those goals we desire for ourselves or our businesses.

It’s a simple enough message but one which we often forget. When was the last time you took a courageous step to move your business forward? I did; I accepted the invitation to be a tip host on the Organizing Connection.

Office Organizing
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Strategic Goals Revisited – The Links

Posted by Carolyn on
 October 30, 2008

To review development of your goals click here.

To review measurement of your goals click here.

Organizing Strategies
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increased organization in your business

Top 5 Series – Organization in your Business

Posted by Carolyn on
 October 17, 2008

increase organization in your businessYou recognize its time to increase organization in your business. You’ve been working diligently to increase your personal organization. As the paper clears and the dust settles, you realize your staff are also working in a cluttered, ineffective environment. It’s time to change the culture in the office from “No one really cares since these aren’t public offices” to “We are proud of the professional environment in which we work“. These strategies will help.

1. Set the Standard Yourself

As head of the organization, directorate or department, your leadership sets the tone. If your office is a pile of disorganized papers, you give your staff the impression you don’t care what the place looks like. Why should they? I know, I know. You can find anything you want in the office right? Are you sure? How long will it take you? And if you don’t show up tomorrow is that the way you want your leadership role remembered? To increase organization in your business requires increased organization for yourself.  Get help if you need it and struggle to manage the space, time or stuff.

2. Walk the Talk

Start talking about professional presentation and image at meetings. Add it to performance appraisals to make staff accountable. In order to increase organization in your business, you will have to set the standard across your business practices.  The top of your desk is only one place.  Staying on time for, during and at meetings speaks volumes about how your expect your staff to perform.

3. Make it easy

Ensure that every staff member has immediate access to a blue box for recycling; right beside their desk in place of a garbage can wouldn’t be tool close.

4. Give staff the Tools

Ensure that every staff has the tools they need to be organized in their work space. Do they have reasonable access to appropriate filing space? Do they have a desk that works? Is there a book shelf or alternative for holding company policy manuals or obligatory preventative maintenance reports? If you aren’t sure what is missing or why an employee is so disorganized, consider having a professional organizer conduct an assessment of the work space in question. There may be more complex organizational issues that the employee is struggling with.

5. Make Organizing a Habit

Schedule a semi-annual clear out day. The rules for the time are simple. Everyone participates in a clear out of their work space on this day. No other meetings or activities are booked. Order lunch for the gang. To increase organization in your business requires routine and practice.

Business Organizing Organizing Strategies Top 5 Series
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